The woman miraculously survived the Chinese house collapse

Chinese state media on May 5 reported that the woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was the 10th person to survive the tragedy in Changsha City. The collapse of a six-story building on April 29 left at least five people dead, and dozens more may still be missing.

Xinhua News Agency said the woman was rescued shortly after midnight 4-5, about 132 hours since she was trapped under the rubble. The woman was conscious and told rescuers how to pull her out safely.

Previously, rescuers used sniffer dogs, hand tools, drones and electronic life detectors to search for survivors. All those rescued appear to be in stable condition after being treated at the hospital. Some showers in recent days could increase the chances of survival of those trapped when they have no food or water.

The woman was pulled out of the rubble on the evening of 4-5. Photo: Xinhua News Agency

So far, at least nine people have been arrested in connection with the building collapse, including the owner, on suspicion of ignoring building regulations.

In addition, three people in charge of design and construction and five others are accused of making a false assessment of the safety level of a hotel located on the 4th to 6th floors of the building.

A surge in self-build collapses in recent years prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping to call for additional inspections last month to detect weak construction practices.

Failure to fully comply with safety standards, including the illegal construction of additional floors and the failure to use reinforcing bars, is often blamed for such tragedies. China is also affected by deteriorating infrastructure such as gas pipelines, which cause explosions and collapses of houses.

The collapse of a 6-storey building on April 29. Photo: Xinhua News Agency